Smart thinking

One of the biggest benefits of the systems in this region is the ability to provide more accurate billing to individual users.

How can smart metering systems benefit building owners, tenants and facilities managers? Facilities Management Middle East examines the operation and advantages of this growing technology.

The use of smart meters and sub-metering systems is rocketing worldwide, with the technology expected to become virtually a standard feature in buildings within the near future.

As governments aim to raise their country’s green credentials and utilities firms seek to reduce consumption and optimise the use of available power and water supplies, the application of such automatic smart metering and sub-metering systems are being seen as ideal solutions.

In fact, the technology is seen to be so beneficial that several countries have introduced legislation covering their application. Smart meters were introduced as a standard in the UK in 2008 by First Utility for customers in the Midlands.

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In December 2008 the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change announced a plan to install the meters in all homes by 2020.

The Republic of Ireland’s Green Party Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has also pledged to introduce smart meters in every home in the country by 2012 and a European Parliament mandate require EU member states to have in place smart meters with 80% coverage by 2020.

Many other countries worldwide have taken similar pledges, with the USA and Scandinavian countries being among the biggest drivers of the technology.

In the Middle East, the recent focus on energy efficiency and sustainable buildings is making these systems increasingly popular. In addition, the risk of insufficient utilities services being available to meet demand in the fast developing region means solutions are being sought to reduce consumption.

Sub-metering has been implemented in a large number of projects across a wide range of sectors and the technology being applied is becoming more sophisticated.

One of the biggest benefits of the systems in this region is the ability to provide more accurate billing to individual users, with high-rise, multi-tenanted buildings the norm.

In addition to ensuring that tenants are only charged for their actual consumption, this has been proven to provide both financial and operational cost savings to the building owners due to a drop in consumption.

“There is a clear difference in the consumption of energy as well as water in measured and non-measured cases,” reports Jarmo Heikkinen, general manager, Kamstrup Middle East.

“At least 20% energy savings can be achieved as standard after meter installation according to European experience,” adds Heikkinen.

“Definitely once the [metering] display is in a residence and monitored by the consumer they will see how they can minimise their usage and this will help the utilities,” agrees Bobby Krishnan, sales manager, Elster Metering. “A 30% reduction in use is possible,” Krishnan adds. In some cases up to 40% energy savings have been achieved by the installation of individual tenant meters.